WELCOME

The St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church was inaugurated in November 2001 by Bishop Bernard Gremoli as part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (formerly Vicariate of Arabia). Our parish is presently pastored by Bishop Paul Hinder. We comprise of many nationalities and diverse communities from around the world united in one body of Christ. Located just off of Sheikh Zayed road behind Al Muntazah Complex in the emirate of Dubai, we are easily accessible from The Gardens Boulevard, Ibn Battuta Metro Station by bus or taxi, and from the Jebel Ali Village Interchange. View our location map.

HOLY SACRAMENTS

BAPTISM

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2-38

The Lord has blessed you and the parish with a beautiful gift — your child — the visible sign of your love for each other. You have played an important part in God's plan of creation, and with Him have given life to a new member of His family. What more beautiful way can we welcome your child into God's family than through the sacrament of baptism.

The rite of baptism for children puts emphasis on the role of parents in baptism, and on the preparation that should be a part of the celebration of this sacrament. The Introduction to the Rite states:

"…it is of great importance for the baptism that parents moved by their own faith, and other members of the parish, should prepare to take part in the rite with understanding…

It is the duty of the priest to prepare families for the baptism of their children and to help them in the task of Christian formation which they have undertaken.

The Introduction to the Rite points out that the importance of the sacrament makes some preparation a necessary element for all involved. As parents, we prepare long and well for the arrival of our children. Now we need to prepare ourselves to help them for the life they will lead as children of God — the lifelong commitment of Catholic Christians."

Through the pre-baptismal programme at our parish, we hope to deepen your understanding of the sacrament of baptism and make you ever more aware of the importance this sacrament plays in your life as a family of God.

RECONCILIATION

"Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are
forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained." John 20,23

Those who approach the sacrament of Reconciliation obtain pardon from God's mercy for the
offenses committed against Him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their
sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.

How to Go To Confession

The priest greets you. The penitent says: "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned." You then say how long it has been since your lst Confession.

The penitent tells the priest his/her sins and answers any questions.

The priest will give you some advice and will assign you a penance.

The penitent will next pray the Act of Contrition.

The priest then gives absolution

The priest will then say and bid you go in the peace of the Lord.

The penitent says: "Thank you father."

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all, because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Thanksgiving After Confession

say your penance and add the Magnificat or prayer of thanksgiving.

Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Almighty and wonderful God, how wonderfully you created man and still more wonderfully remade him. You do not abandon the sinner but seek him out with a father's love. You sent your Son into the world to destroy sin and death by his passion, and to restore life and joy by his resurrection. You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts to make us your children and heirs to your kingdom. You constantly renew our spirit in the sacrament of your redeeming love, freeing us from slavery to sin and transforming us ever more closely into the likeness of your beloved Son. We thank you for the wonders of your mercy and with heart and hand and voice we join with the whole Church in a new song of praise: Glory to you through Christ in the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.

HOLY EUCHARIST

So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. John 6:53-56First Holy Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper. Eucharist is a Greek word meaning "to give thanks." It is a celebration of Christ's gifts - especially the gift of worshipping God the Father as a community. Eucharist has held a central place of prominence in the Church for nearly 2,000 years. Every time we gather for Eucharist, we take part in the great mystery of faith. We believe that this sacred bread and wine are the body and blood of Jesus. When we eat His body and drink His blood, we will have eternal life.

CONFIRMATION

"The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.' After saying this, he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit."John 20:20-22Becoming a fully active member of God's Family is a journey — a process of initiation involving the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation. The process allows you time to discover your faith, to become involved with the community of faith, and to know Jesus — the cornerstone of that faith.

From its very beginning, the Christian community welcomed new members through a special period of training during which the faith of newcomers could grow and mature until they were ready for full commitment to Jesus. The same dynamic occurred between Jesus and his Apostles. The newfound faith of the Apostles after they first responded to the call of Jesus was not the same as the firm and joyous faith of Pentecost. In fact, as Luke points out in Acts, not even witnessing the risen Christ on Easter was sufficient for the Apostles to grasp fully the message of Jesus. Only after their special encounter with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost could they proclaim Jesus as Lord to the Jerusalem crowds.

Confirmation is your personal Pentecost. It is the time in your life when the Father empowers you in a special way with the Holy Spirit. Though it is unlikely that your experience will be of tongues of fire and a violent wind, you will be anointed with Holy Chrism, marked with the sign of the cross, and the bishop will say to you, "Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit."

MATRIMONY

They are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Mark 10:6-9Vatican II gave married couples the title of "The Domestic Church" in recognition of the very special tasks with which God entrusted us.

The union of husband and wife can be compared to the union between Christ and His Church. The two become one flesh and share in the great union of Christ's love.

A Christian marriage is a sacrament in which a baptized man and woman pledge their love through a deep and personal covenant. To celebrate this sacrament, the man and woman must be of mature age. There can't be a previously existing valid marriage. And they must freely intend to enter a lifelong commitment.

Prerequisite
The documents required are:

Certificate of Baptism.

Certificate of Confirmation (Can. 1065).

Certificate of "Freedom to Marry" from your parish where you were baptized.

HOLY ORDERS

"So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash another's feet…. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them." John 13:12-17Holy Orders is a sacrament reserved for those who are entering the ministerial priesthood to serve the faithful. That includes Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. They receive special gifts to share the sacraments with the faithful. Holy Orders is a sacrament through which a person dedicates his life to God.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." James 5:14-15If anyone in your family has a serious illness, the parish would like to celebrate this sacrament of God's healing love with that person. Please call the parish office to schedule this celebration. The priest will be happy to come to your home, the hospital, or wherever is most convenient for the ill person and the family. We encourage as many family members as possible to be present for this joyous celebration through which God heals, lifts up, and gives hope, peace and new life to His faithful people.

Who can be anointed?

Person who is seriously ill.

Person who is convalescing or temporarily ill.

Person who is chronically ill (heart, arthritis, asthma, etc.).

Person who suffers from mental and emotional difficulties.

Person who is 65 years of age and older.

Person due to undergo surgery in the near future.

Sick children who have reached the age of reason.

Parishioner Profile Registration

Christmas Programme 2017

abstracts

WHY PEOPLE WHO PRAY ARE HEALTHIER THAN THOSE WHO DON’T”“It doesn’t matter if you pray for yourself or for others, pray to heal an illness or for peace in the world, or simply sit in silence and quiet the mind — the effects appear to be the same. …prayer and meditation increase levels of dopamine, which is associated with states of well being and joy. …one group of people who suffer migraines to meditate 20 minutes each day repeating a spiritual affirmation, such as “God is good. God is peace. God is love.” The other group used a nonspiritual mantra: “Grass is green. Sand is soft.” The spiritual meditators had fewer headaches and more tolerance of pain than those who had focused on the neutral phrases.

CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT DOGMAThe poet Robert Frost once said that writing free verse was like playing tennis without a net. It’s the same for those who would like their Christianity to be free from dogma. Dogma, for those who have forgotten, are the doctrines that are specified as necessary to be believed. By their very nature, dogmas are intellectual propositions that spell out certain Christian beliefs. They’re mandatory--like the net is for tennis. » more

BLACK MASS ORGANIZERS FACE LAWSUIT OVER STOLEN HOST“Our legal theory is very simple,” he continued, “a Consecrated Eucharist belongs to the Church.”“The Church has exercised dominion and control over the Eucharist for 2000 years. The Satanists procured the Consecrated Host by illicit means, by theft or fraud. We are simply asking the Court to return the stolen property to its rightful owner, the Roman Catholic Church.” » more

PRAYER A STRONGHOLD IN LIFE, DEATH OF CATHOLIC JOURNALIST JAMES FOLEYAbout how he turned to prayer, specifically the Rosary, during his captivity, and how the prayers of family and friends also gave him strength. “I began to pray the Rosary.” he wrote. “It was what my mother and grandmother would have prayed. I said 10 Hail Marys between each Our Father. It took a long time, almost an hour to count 100 Hail Marys off on my knuckles. And it helped to keep my mind focused.”» more

WHY DO CHILDREN LOSE FAITH IN GOD?Why is it that some people are able to know God and believe in Him until the end of their days, while others lose their faith while still young ? How does this loss of faith occur and by what means can faith be preserved or renewed? » more

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS Three thousand were killed at the first Pentecost; at the New Pentecost, occurring after the definitive Passover of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, three thousand were not just restored, but in a real sense were brought back to life (Rom. 6:4).

So, how do you train yourself to pick up on these details? Perhaps the easiest way is to follow along while the lector is reading at Mass. Focus not just on the main storyline but on the small points the sacred author includes. Ask yourself questions. Why did Jesus say what he said in just that way? Why is this precise detail mentioned? If the homily is engaging, save your questions to think about later, perhaps during post-Communion meditation. If you find yourself bored during the homily, then focus on your questions and think about them instead.
» more

POPE'S LENTEN MESSAGE 2014 So what is this poverty by which Christ frees us and enriches us? It is his way of loving us, his way of being our neighbour, just as the Good Samaritan was neighbour to the man left half dead by the side of the road (cf. Lk 10:25ff).» more

IMPORTANCE OF CONFESSION Francis has personally directed his closest collaborators, the cardinals and archbishops of the Roman Curia, to take turns hearing daily confession in the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, an ordinary Roman church outside of the Vatican.» more

POPE FRANCIS GREETS MUSLIMS He urges both Christians and Muslims to promote mutual respect. He sent greetings to Muslims, our brothers, throughout the world who had just finished celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan.» more

WHY YOU SHOULD BRING YOUR BABY TO CHURCH Don’t do mass in shifts. The Mass is for families. When parents say they aren’t “getting anything out of Mass” when they bring small children they are missing the point. What you get out of Mass when you have small children is the joy of passing your faith on to them. That’s what you signed up for when you became a Catholic parent. Yes, it can be tough, and yes, you may certainly do other things to get your spiritual needs met, but Sunday mass is for your family. Go as a family.» more

VATICAN BANK CLEAN-UP INTENSIFIESReligious and judicial specialists on Tuesday said the Vatican had forcibly shed two long-serving chiefs who survived the unceremonious eviction in May 2012 of the former head, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, purportedly for poor management but amid reports of money-laundering. » more

CHRISTIAN BY CHANCE?being Christian is a response to the voice of love, to a call to become children of God. There is a call, “by name, and with a promise,” the Pope said, “Go ahead, I am with you! I walk beside you.” This, he said, Jesus knew as well: “Even in the most difficult moments He turns to the Father”. » more

ST. PAUL'S CHURCHMussafah, Abu Dhabi. On 29 June 2013, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Bishop Paul Hinder blessed the foundation stone on the site of the future St. Paul's Church in the presence of many priests and sisters, about 300 faithful as well as the architects, engineers and contractors. » more

100 DAYS OF FRANCISPope Francis is approaching 100 days as our Holy Father. The beginning of his papal service has drawn massive attention and offered new ways of carrying out the leadership of the Universal Church. » more

POPE SENDS CLEAR SIGNALA last-minute no-show by Pope Francis at a concert sent another clear signal that he is going to do things his way and does not like the Vatican high life. » more

BE PASTORScandidates must be “close to the people, fathers and brothers…gentle, patient and merciful; animated by inner poverty, the freedom of the Lord and also by outward simplicity and austerity of life” » more

daily prayer

AN ACT OF CHARITY

O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

Disclaimer: the information presented on this website is provided for your convenience.
Please check regularly for updates as the parish may change the information and/or schedule as, and when, appropriate.
Temporary changes, usually at short notice, and last minute revisions appear only on the home page.
Masses, sacramental courses/seminars, and other periodical services may be cancelled during summer break, and on days of feasts and solemnities.
Catechism classes conclude for the summer break and a new catechetical year starts after the break.
When in doubt, or where the information is ambiguous or incomplete, please consult the coordinator(s), where applicable, and/or the parish office.